After returning from Tianhen Peak, Ji Wushuang went to Beast God Peak to purchase some premium feed for spirit beasts, spending a significant sum to acquire the most expensive variety, intending to feed it to the little black cat. However, the cat disdainfully rejected it with a look of utter contempt.
Instead, it leapt onto the dining table, casting a poised yet expectant glance at the food laid out before her.
Ji Wushuang immediately understood—the little creature wanted to eat her spiritual meal.
"Do you also want to eat?" she asked.
The little black cat nodded confidently, certain that Ji Wushuang would surely share her spiritual meal. After all, just moments ago, the swordsman had declared it to be a divine beast, a descendant of Bai Ze!
As long as this girl wasn't completely foolish, she'd undoubtedly try her best to please it.
But Ji Wushuang was an exception. "No," she replied firmly. "No merit, no reward. You haven't done anything, so you don't deserve my spiritual meal."
The little black cat: "Meow meow meow!"
Tianyan Tu, ever so kindly, translated for Ji Wushuang: "It's cursing you, and rather rudely at that."
Ji Wushuang firmly grasped the little black cat by the scruff of its neck, raising an eyebrow. "I have no connection with you. You're not my spirit beast, so I have no obligation to care for you."
The little black cat: "Meow meow meow!"
It says you're just trying to contract it, calling you delusional and playing hard to get.
Ji Wushuang shook the little black cat lightly, her tone indifferent and cold. "I don't want to contract you, nor am I playing hard to get. As you heard earlier, I don't have a spiritual bone, so there's no spiritual energy inside me."
The little black cat's pupils widened in shock. "Meow!!!"
Seeing its whiskers twitch in surprise, Ji Wushuang couldn't resist giving it a light stroke and continued, "But since you're showing some sense today, and haven't sent any opportunities to the child of destiny, I'll treat you to a meal. After that, we part ways. Oh, and if you don't want to become a human race's contracted beast, it's best to stay far from them."
There weren't many cultivators like Yao Cang, who were so "righteous and virtuous."
Had anyone else discovered the little black cat's true nature, it would either be enslaved for life or subjected to horrific torture, with not a single hair spared.
"Eat up," Ji Wushuang urged.
Today's meal had been delivered by the Jin family, rich in flavor, aroma, and essence, packed with spiritual energy, not the slightest bit of carelessness.
Particularly a steamed black carp dragonfish—rumor had it that such a fish could transform into a flood dragon after cultivation.
And a flood dragon that survives the Nine Thunder Tribulations would eventually ascend to become a true dragon!
In essence, it was an incredibly rare delicacy. The little black cat devoured it eagerly, meowing in delight.
By the end of the meal, Ji Wushuang barely had a chance to eat a few bites, as the little creature had consumed it all.
What Bai Ze?
A fake!
This was clearly a glutton!
Ji Wushuang's lips twitched as she further solidified her decision: This beast cannot stay.
Ridiculous! If it stayed, what would she eat in the future?
The meal ended in a heated competition between them, with the little black cat even finishing off the fish bones. After a slow, satisfied burp, it curled up on the floor, exposing its soft belly to Ji Wushuang.
"Meow~"
The sly little black cat tried to feign innocence, but Ji Wushuang ruthlessly grabbed it by the scruff of its neck and tossed it out.
"That's it, we're done. Don't ever show your face here again."
With a thud, Ji Wushuang slammed the door of her cave.
The little black cat: "???"
It scrambled up to the door, desperately pawing and scratching at it, meowing furiously.
"Meow meow meow!"
Come out if you have the guts!
"Meow meow meow!"
I am Bai Ze! Bai Ze! You ungrateful fool!
When her Second Senior Sister, Hua Fanyin, came to visit Ji Wushuang, she was struck dumb by the unbelievable scene before her. It was straight out of a romantic drama: "The young lady scolds the heartless man, who coldly avoids her?"
Beyond the "meow meow meow" protests, Hua Fanyin could occasionally hear a response that sounded suspiciously like, "Heartless man!"
"You should go, I won't keep you. You eat too much," Ji Wushuang muttered.
"Meow meow meow."
That "heartless man's" voice—wasn't it just her little junior sister?
Unable to hold back any longer, Hua Fanyin burst into laughter, walked over, and scooped up the little black cat. She gently knocked on Ji Wushuang's door.
"Junior Sister, it's me, open up."
Hearing her senior sister, Ji Wushuang knew she couldn't continue pretending, so she opened the door to greet her.
But the moment the little black cat saw Ji Wushuang, it leapt straight at her, biting her finger without hesitation, nearly breaking its own teeth.
However, being a descendant of a divine beast had its perks, and it managed to draw a drop of blood.
A celestial array formed beneath Ji Wushuang and the little black cat's feet, symbolizing the signing of an equal life contract between them.
Hua Fanyin was dumbstruck. "Junior Sister, are you okay?"
Ji Wushuang sighed. "…"
She reluctantly grabbed the little black cat by the scruff of its neck again. "Why are you contracting with me? Hurry and release it!"
The little black cat: "Meow meow meow!"
I refuse!
The childish voice echoed in Ji Wushuang's mind, and for once, she didn't need Tianyan Tu to translate. She could understand her new little adversary perfectly.
Ji Wushuang sighed, trying to reason with the stubborn little creature. "I can't cultivate. Contracting with me will bring you no benefits. After a hundred years, when I die, you'll still live, but you'll be affected."
The lifespan of a divine beast was long—though the little black cat might not have much of Bai Ze's bloodline, it could easily live for several thousand years.
"Meow meow meow!"
Stop with your sweet talk. You just can't bear to part with your spiritual meals!
"…" Ji Wushuang felt a twinge of guilt. It had seen through her!
"Meow meow meow!"
I knew it! You lying little girl. Don't think you can fool me. I'm Bai Ze!
Seeing that the little black cat was about to start its tirade again, Ji Wushuang swiftly pinched its mouth shut and turned to Hua Fanyin. "Senior Sister, what brings you here?"
Hua Fanyin snapped out of her "Junior Sister and the little cat are so cute together!" daze and cleared her throat. "Oh, did you succeed? If not, let me go teach her a lesson!"
Ji Wushuang shook her head. "Please don't interfere, Senior Sister. I'll figure this out on my own."
Hua Fanyin simply nodded, pulling out a pile of books from her spatial ring—disorganized and varied.
"I brought these for you to read. Might help pass the time."
"Thank you, Senior Sister."
Both Ji Wushuang and the little black cat stared at her with wide, round eyes. Hua Fanyin was so charmed that she gave them both a couple of pats before taking her leave.
After Hua Fanyin left, Ji Wushuang and the little black cat had a brief skirmish.
In the end, neither gained the upper hand, and they called a temporary truce.
Both collapsed onto the soft couch in defeat.
"What's your name?"
"Bai Ze is just Bai Ze. What else should I be called? Meow."
"A name? There are so many beasts in the Bai Ze clan. If everyone's called Bai Ze, it'll get confusing."
"That's true. But do you think I'll even meet my kin? Meow."
"Well, then I'll call you Xiao Mi."
"Do you believe I'll scratch you? Meow."
"How about Bai Ye? You're all black, like the night. Bai Ye suits you."
After a moment's contemplation, the little black cat accepted the name.
From that day forward, it was known as Bai Ye.
Ji Wushuang suddenly remembered something. She took out the stone Xiao Bai had given her and asked, "What is this? Why did you seem so reluctant to part with it when you gave it to me?"
"Oh, that's the seed of a Tianyuan fruit. Meow."